VA commemorates 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War’s end
CENTER TWP — On the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, veterans gathered to mark the day and receive a commemorative pin recognizing their service.
VA Butler Healthcare System hosted a celebration in recognition of the anniversary of the fall of Saigon at the Abie Abraham VA Healthcare Center on Wednesday, April 30. Vietnam veterans could come to the center between 10 a.m. and noon to participate in the commemoration.
Veterans who attended the event were given the official Vietnam veteran lapel pin and provided light refreshments. Volunteers thanked the veterans for their service and offered them pamphlets and packets related to the commemoration and other Butler VA services.
The pin depicts a bald eagle in front of six stars and the stripes of the American flag. The six stars represent the six allies who fought in Vietnam: Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and the United States. A message on the back reads “A grateful nation thanks and honors you.”
Ronald Snyder, an attending Air Force and Air National Guard veteran, said events like this remind him of his service and the friends he made along the way — even the ones who aren’t here anymore.
“I’m glad to see things like this, to recognize the people, because some of them are just sitting at home wondering what happened to their life,” Snyder said. “They served two years, four, six, came home and just fell into a void.”
He said the work done by Butler VA and its volunteers goes a long way to provide essential services to veterans. He mentioned his own involvement in the Whole Health program as one such example.
“So, the VA here is a big part of my life,” Snyder said. “There’s a lot more that goes into it and these guys do a great job in making us feel welcome.”
Norm Carpenter, a Vietnam veteran who volunteered at the commemoration, said he comes from a family of service members. After serving in Vietnam, he felt the call to serve once again as a volunteer.
“It’s just a way to give back to those people that sacrificed a lot more than me,” Carpenter said.
At 10:30 a.m., veterans and volunteers gathered into the History Center, where Rebecca Wolfe, associate director for operations, delivered a short speech thanking the veterans for their service.
“We want to honor your sacrifice that you made then and those sacrifices that continued through the years as you returned home with the memories of this conflict,” Wolfe said.
She mentioned that 2025 would be the end of the commemoration program and the distribution of lapel pins.
“We’re trying to get those out to all the Vietnam veterans who haven’t received one,” Wolfe said to the veterans. “So, if you know someone who has not received a pin, please let us know and we would be happy to give you an extra one or two.”
The commemoration was originally authorized by Congress, established by the Secretary of Defense and launched in 2012.
It aims to fulfill five outlined goals: honoring Vietnam veterans; honoring the service of the Armed Forces and contributions of federal agencies, governmental and nongovernmental organizations during the war; paying tribute to wartime contributions at home; highlighting technical, scientific and medical advances during the war and recognizing the contribution by allies.
“Through the dedicated efforts of these partners, millions of Vietnam veterans and their families are being thanked and honored where they live and work by neighbors, family and friends,” the program said in a flyer.
Paula McCarl, public relations officer for Butler VA, said those who have yet to get a pin will have other opportunities, such as Veterans Appreciation Day on May 31 and events in November for National Veterans and Military Families Month.
“When (Vietnam veterans) came home, they weren’t welcome and appreciated, so for many of them, they had a bad experience,” McCarl said. “Things have changed, and we want to make sure that we provide a welcoming home for them and thank them for their service.”
